Anti-Virus

[Tolsty]

Its time to renew my anti-virus.
Does anyone have any suggestions of any good ones, the cheaper the better!

[MarkRae]

Well, there's little cheaper than free! I can't understand why people continue to pay for anti-virus software.

MSE is good, as are AVG and Avast. Avoid Kaspersky like the plague...

[Giggsie]

http://windows.micros...s/security-essentials

[chi-chi66]

Well I'm on Norton..find it ok. My daughter bought it, when it was half price,
usually that starts around Dec. time, in the shops. It's one that can be used for up to 3 computers, so when we have shared it out, it has cost us £8 each.

I was on AVG free, but got the dreaded trojans, cost me £80 in total to get
it put right, I'm not technical, so was lost. I prefer to pay £8. x

[johnny37]

Not sure free is a good idea when you look at all the scams that are about. I think WHSmiths are still selling Norton for £25. Mine is 'free' with my Talktalk broadband package (not Norton).

[daffy654]

Free is fine johnny37, it isn't the anti virus products that are to blame for computers getting infected, it is mainly people's browsing and download habits. There are occasions where an innocent site can be infected but those are pretty uncommon.

[vivandorron]

Good advice from Mark.......I have never tried Avast, so can't pass comment on it. However, my experience of the free AVG was that it needed up-dating almost every few days. Consequently, I have settled for MSE which has automatic up-dates.

Ron.

[MarkRae]

Free AVG also has automatic updates - you just need to configure it...

[vivandorron]

Hi Mark.....It only goes to show my lack of knowledge on technical matters.

Ron.

[Messi_Ten]

Anti-virus software won't stop you falling for scams!

[Cmitchell]

Norton every time. My hubby is really in the know and wouldnt even entertain any others. Can be a little pricey but well worth it. You won't be having to get s**t taken off ur machine or worse still losing work etc etc.
As for free ones, if it's free it's unlikely to be top notch.
Seriously mate, get Norton, does its own updating& everything.

[daffy654]

Cmitchell, there are many of us here who are in the know and we say the free MSE is perfectly adequate. I personally wouldn't get AVG again as it increases the PC boot up time by a heck of a lot and slows down website loading because it wants to check each page before it allows you onto it.

[Wak]

I've used the FREE Avast for the last thirteen years and never had any problems with it. I did try AVG for a short while but found that you couldn't switch any part of it off without uninstalling the complete program.
With Avast you can stop sections of it running if required.
Avast also updates automatically, sometimes every day as they really seem to be on the ball in that direction.
You also need a good firewall as part of your protection program.

[MarkRae]

> Norton, does its own updating & everything.

So does every other free anti-virus solution! Until only quite recently, Norton for Windows was by far the worst of this type of software available. Though much better these days (it could hardly have got any worse!), it remains tarnished with its dreadful past to the extent where many people still wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole.

I would respectfully suggest that husband isn't "in the know" anything like you (or he!) think he is...

[ChuckFickens]

I like these "in the know" people, I earn loads of beer money repairing their computers.

[MarkRae]

I trust that you do the industry-standard sharp intake of breath and shake of the head just before saying "Which cowboy installed that, then?"... ;-)

[alavahalf]

Norton has it good points ... you can get a free removal tool for it.

[TheNovice]

Totally agree with MarkRae on Nortons....bloody awful and once bitten twice shy. AVG for me and no problems.